Academic accomplishment preservation device

ABSTRACT

A display plaque for a dissertation, thesis, or the like. The display plaque has a storage medium, such as a disk, with an electronic copy of the dissertation/thesis. The display plaque may additionally include other items relating to the academic institution where the dissertation/thesis was submitted, a degree obtained from the institution, and/or the author of the dissertation/thesis. This may include a diploma, image of the institution, and/or text identifying the author, institution, year of graduation, etc.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for the preservation ofacademic accomplishments and, in particular, to a display plaque for adissertation, thesis, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a common desire on the part of individuals who have completed anacademic degree or received an academic honor to have a display plaquethat contains a record of that accomplishment. To memorialize thereceipt of a degree, the memento typically consists of a matted andframed, or laminated, diploma. Academic awards may be formed into theirown engraved plaque, or may also comprise a certificate that is suitablypreserved and displayed.

Some academic degrees, including specifically PhD's and some master'sdegrees, require the completion of a dissertation, thesis, or similarproduct. That product can itself be a source of great pride to agraduate. Presently, a dissertation or thesis would typically be foundin a bound volume on a book shelf, where it is not readily visible inthe manner that a display plaque would be.

A need therefore exists for a display plaque that includes a version ofa dissertation or thesis. The present invention satisfies this need andprovides other, related, advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a displayplaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, in combination: aplaque surface; a storage medium containing one of a dissertation andthesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; andtext identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis locatedon one of the plaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaquesurface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to beingdisplayed.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, adisplay plaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, incombination: a plaque surface; a storage medium containing one of adissertation and thesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to theplaque surface; text identifying a title of the one of a dissertationand thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium;wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, isadapted to being displayed; and a diploma from an academic institutionwhere the one of a dissertation aid thesis was submitted, coupled to theplaque surface; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon aprimary color relating to an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, adisplay plaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, incombination: a plaque surface; a storage medium containing one of adissertation and thesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to theplaque surface; text identifying a title of the one of a dissertationand thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium;wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, isadapted to being displayed; a diploma from an academic institution wherethe one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted, coupled to theplaque surface; and an image displayed on the plaque surface of anacademic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis wassubmitted; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primarycolor relating to an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted; wherein the plaque surface hasdisplayed thereon a secondary color relating to an academic institutionwhere the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a display plaque 10 (“plaque10”) is disclosed. The plaque 10 includes an underlying plaque surface12 that may be formed form any desired material, including for exampleany material of a type commonly used for the display of diplomas or thelike. The surface 12 may be, for example, comprised of cardboard, whichmay be secured to a frame (not shown) formed from wood, metal, plastic,or the like. The surface 12 may itself be formed from wood or otherstrong material, particularly where the plaque 10 is formed through alamination rather than a matting process.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the plaque 10 has displayed thereon astorage medium 14 containing an electronic copy of a dissertation,thesis, or similar word product submitted as part of the completion ofthe requirements for obtaining an academic degree. In this embodiment,the storage medium 14 is a compact disk, though other non-volatile mediamay be provided, such as a DVD, flash memory drive, or the like. It ispreferred that the storage medium 14 be removably coupled to the plaque10, so that it may be removed therefrom and the information containedthereon accessed electronically.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a plate 16 containing textidentifying the title of the dissertation/thesis is provided on theplaque 10. Alternatively or additionally, such text may be provided onthe storage medium 14.

In this embodiment, a diploma 18 is also located on the plaque 10. Thediploma 18 may be an actual, official diploma received from an academicinstitution, or it may be a facsimile thereof. Also in this embodiment,a picture, sketch or other image 20 of the academic institution isprovided on the plaque 10.

It may additionally be desired, as shown in FIG. 1, to display one ortwo (or perhaps more) colors associated with the academic institution onthe plaque 10. This may be accomplished as part of a matting process,where, for example, a primary color 22 is located on a foreground matte,and a secondary color 24 is located on a border matte. Of course, itwould be possible to display such colors without utilizing a mattingprocess, for example by applying a color directly to a surface of plaque10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of a display plaqueconsistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown,identified herein as plaque 100. The plaque 100 includes an underlyingplaque surface 112, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; astorage medium 114, like storage medium 14 described above; a plate 116,like plate 16 described above; a diploma 118, like diploma 118 describedabove; and primary and secondary colors 122 and 124, like primary andsecondary colors 22 and 24 described above. FIG. 2 illustrates anembodiment in which the image 20 is not provided.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a display plaqueconsistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown,identified herein as plaque 200. The plaque 200 includes an underlyingplaque surface 212, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; astorage medium 214, like storage medium 14 described above; and primaryand secondary colors 222 and 224, like primary and secondary colors 22and 24 described above. This embodiment further includes a plate 216.However, in this embodiment, information other than the title of thedissertation/thesis may be provided. Because a diploma is not providedin this embodiment, it is preferred to include on plate 216 the name ofthe graduate, the name of the academic institution, and the date ofgraduation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a display plaqueconsistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown,identified herein as plaque 300. The plaque 300 includes an underlyingplaque surface 312, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; astorage medium 314, like storage medium 14 described above; and primarycolor 222, like primary color 22 described above. This embodimentfurther includes a plate 316, which may alternatively and/oradditionally contain text like that on plate 16 or plate 216 describedabove.

It should be noted that multiple variations are possible on the variouscombinations shown in FIGS. 1-4, without departing from the spirit orscope of the present invention. For example, it may be desired toprovide a plaque having neither primary nor secondary colors relating tothe academic institution—or perhaps having more than two colorsassociated with such institution. The text on the plate may be varied asdesired, and it may be desired to provide multiple plates. Text may beprovided without the need for a plate at all, for example by printing itdirectly on the plaque surface, on a matt, on a frame, or otherwise.

Preferably, the plaque is adapted to be displayed in a desired manner.For example, it may be preferred to provide on a rear side (not shown)of a plaque hardware sufficient to permit a hanging of a plaque on awall. It may, alternatively, be desired to display the plaque by placingit on a display stand. It may also be desired to provide a plaque thatis free-standing, for example to be displayed on a desk or other flatsurface.

1. A display plaque comprising, in combination: a plaque surface; astorage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis; wherein thestorage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; and text identifying atitle of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of theplaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaque surface, withthe storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed. 2.The display plaque of claim 1, further comprising an image displayed onthe plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted.
 3. The display plaque of claim 1further comprising a diploma from an academic institution where the oneof a dissertation and thesis was submitted coupled to the plaquesurface.
 4. The display plaque of claim 2 further comprising a diplomafrom the academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesiswas submitted coupled to the plaque surface.
 5. The display plaque ofclaim 1 wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary colorrelating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation andthesis was submitted.
 6. The display plaque of claim 5 wherein theplaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary color relating to anacademic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis wassubmitted.
 7. The display plaque of claim 6 wherein the primary color islocated on a matte located on the plaque surface and wherein thesecondary color is located on a border located on the plaque surface. 8.The display plaque of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a disk.
 9. Adisplay plaque comprising, in combination: a plaque surface; a storagemedium containing one of a dissertation and thesis; wherein the storagemedium is coupled to the plaque surface; text identifying a title of theone of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surfaceand the storage medium; wherein the plaque surface, with the storagemedium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed; and a diplomafrom an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesiswas submitted, coupled to the plaque surface; wherein the plaque surfacehas displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academicinstitution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.10. The display plaque of claim 9, further comprising an image displayedon the plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted.
 11. The display plaque of claim 9wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary colorrelating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation andthesis was submitted.
 12. The display plaque of claim 11 wherein theprimary color is located on a matte located on the plaque surface andwherein the secondary color is located on a border located on the plaquesurface.
 13. The display plaque of claim 9 wherein the storage medium isa disk.
 14. A display plaque comprising, in combination: a plaquesurface; a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis;wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; textidentifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located onone of the plaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaquesurface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to beingdisplayed; a diploma from an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted, coupled to the plaque surface;and an image displayed on the plaque surface of an academic institutionwhere the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted; wherein theplaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to anacademic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis wassubmitted; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondarycolor relating to an academic institution where the one of adissertation and thesis was submitted.
 15. The display plaque of claim14 wherein the primary color is located on a matte located on the plaquesurface and wherein the secondary color is located on a border locatedon the plaque surface.
 16. The display plaque of claim 14 wherein thestorage medium is a disk.